Center Square: Survey shows more than half of Illinois small businesses paying higher rent than 6 months ago
As Illinois small businesses continue to struggle to recover from the pandemic, a survey shows a majority of them are facing higher rent payments. The small business network Allignable reports 55% are paying higher rent than six months ago, and 16% say their rent is over 20% higher than in January.
Center Square: Illinois child care costs are among the highest in the U.S.
Illinois parents pay among the highest child care costs in the nation, a new study from the Annie E. Casey Foundation has found. The average single mother spends more than a third of her paycheck on child care.
Bloomberg: Chicago pension debt rises to $35 billion as mayor hunts for fix
Chicago’s pension burden climbed last year after the city’s retirement funds lost money due to volatile markets, deepening the long-standing fiscal woes for new Mayor Brandon Johnson. The city’s four funds range from about 19% to about 40% funded, according to the report. That’s far short of other municipal plans: around the U.S., funding ratios for the largest public pensions average above 70%.
Chicago Tribune: Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough seeks end to historic anti-patronage case despite charges she ‘stonewalls’
For more than a decade as a Cook County officeholder, Democratic stalwart Karen Yarbrough has repeatedly fought allegations she and her office violated long-standing federal court decrees aimed at cracking down on patronage hiring that has haunted local government for generations.
Sun-Times: Immigrant advocates slam Pritzker for cutting health care program for noncitizens
As of Saturday, people ages 42 to 64 no longer are eligible to join a Medicaid-like program for noncitizens. Those already enrolled will now have co-pays. Illinois had originally created the Medicaid-like program for seniors without permanent legal status in 2020. It was the first state in the country to create such a program.
NBC 5 Chicago: Chicago bet big on NASCAR, but did it pay off? Here's what one economist says
NASCAR projected more than $50 million would be spent on construction, race services and labor. That would bring the estimated economic impact to almost $114 million. But experts like Allen Samuelson, a University of Chicago economist who specializes in sports economics said the estimates may be generous.
Daily Herald: 'Haven't done their research': Bears stadium critic to try to recall Arlington Heights mayor
‘Haven’t done their research’: Bears stadium critic to try to recall Arlington Heights mayor – Daily Herald
An Arlington Heights critic of the Chicago Bears’ redevelopment plans has launched a petition drive to recall the mayor and a trustee over a failure to “prioritize the welfare and interests” of residents.
WCIA: Bailey announces run for Congress, will challenge Bost in Southern Illinois
Former Republican candidate for governor and former state lawmaker Darren Bailey announced he will be running for Congress in the 12th District. Bailey has been out of office since losing the race for governor in 2022. He will face Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Bost in the primary.